Samsung Electronics is building a new semiconductor research complex in Yongin, South Korea, investing 20 trillion won ($15.2 billion) through 2030. The facility, dubbed NRD-K, will span 109,000 square meters at the company’s historic Giheung Campus.
The research center, slated to begin operations by mid-2025, will focus on developing advanced technologies across memory, system semiconductors, and foundry services. The facility will house cutting-edge equipment including extreme ultraviolet lithography tools and wafer bonding infrastructure.
Samsung’s Device Solutions chief Jeon Young-hyun said the complex would enhance development speed from basic research to mass production, though analysts note the investment comes as the chipmaker faces growing competition from Taiwan’s TSMC in the foundry sector.
The Giheung location holds strategic importance as Samsung’s semiconductor birthplace, where it developed its first 64Mb DRAM in 1992. The area has since evolved into a semiconductor hub, hosting numerous domestic and international suppliers.
The investment reflects Samsung’s push to maintain its leadership in memory chips while expanding its foundry business amid rising demand for artificial intelligence processors.
